Saunderites

Housemaster

Mrs SC Allen MA

Suzanne Allen became sole Housemaster of Saunderites in September 2013 after sharing the role with her husband, Simon from 2008. Suzanne read Natural Sciences at Cambridge and won a blue for athletics. She taught Biology at Wellington and Shrewsbury before coming to Charterhouse. Suzanne is master in charge of athletics, and her interests include outdoor activities and travel. Suzanne and her husband, Simon, have two young children. Simon is Senior Tutot at Charterhouse and also teaches Spanish.

Contact Information

Housemaster Statement

Saunderites (pronounced Sarnderites, not Sornderites) aims to gather together a cross-section of very able young people who are then closely guided into getting the most out of the fantastic opportunities that are provided at a school like Charterhouse. The House is, by a short distance, the largest in the School, and features strength is all areas of the academic and extra-curricular domain. Through meeting all prospective parents and pupils, I attempt to select an intake which is diverse and representative of skills in sport, music, drama and academic work. House music and drama are taken very seriously by the pupils who work tirelessly every year to produce something really worthwhile. Saunderites is also building a strong reputation for sport, recently wining trophies and reaching several house finals in football, cricket, swimming, squash and waterpolo. As well as skill and success, teamwork and encouraging a participation culture are also highly valued.

House Profile

The eclectic array of talent in Saunderites ensures that life in the House is never boring. With a plethora of academic scholars, outstanding sportsmen and gifted musicians and artists, the standards are inevitably high. This is not to say that it is an elitist House; first-timers are encouraged and fostered, while the facilities on offer, such as the computer room (the best of any House), ensure that there is always something to do even if you are not keen on mainstream activities.

Mrs Allen, our Housemaster, is always approachable and has time for all members of Saunderites. Equipped with a consummate Matron and an enthusiastic chef, not to mention a set of excellent cleaners, the staff behind-the-scenes at Saunderites are invaluable to the running of the House. They really do make our lives trouble-free, and allow us to concentrate on honing our talents and interests.

The main focus, as in every educational environment, is naturally on academic work. The ample space in our rooms to put our books enables us to get on with the work in a relaxed and comfortable manner, and there are a host of computers available throughout the day for academic use. One of the great benefits of Saunderites is its location; within a minute’s walk of the main academic buildings, the House is perfectly placed for going to lessons or the library.

Although the sports fields are further away, this does not discourage the House from having a strong sporting reputation. We are always striving to reach the final of any sporting competition, which we have done in several sports during the past few years, and even if you aren’t one of the best sportsmen in the House, there is always the more enjoyable ‘Colts’ or ‘Tics’ team to play in.

Our musicians have recently won the House Music Festival, which speaks volumes for the musical talent in Saunderites. We also performed very well in the House Art Competition, with contributors from every year in Saunderites.

But, most importantly, Saunderites is one of the friendliest Houses at Charterhouse. Although boarding school will be unavoidably daunting to those coming here for the first time, the Housemaster and all the students try to make the transition from prep school as easy as possible. With the entire House having undergone recent refurbishment, rooms are fitted with all the furniture and facilities we need, and the size of the rooms does not necessarily equate to the year you’re in. With a sociable atmosphere, Saunderites is a prominent House on all fronts, and we thoroughly recommend it to you.

- A House Monitor

The Boarding House

Saunderites is the ‘senior’ House in the School because, until the 1950s, the Headmaster of Charterhouse was also the Housemaster of Saunderites. The present Headmaster still retains part of the House for his study and waiting rooms. One of the original buildings at the heart of the school, Saunderites combines the splendour of the Victorian gothic with a recently-refurbished comfortable and practical interior. The private side was designed by the first headmaster of the Godalming Charterhouse, William Haig Brown, for his wife, nine children and servants, and originally most of the boys slept in long dormitories. These are now gone, and boys are accommodated in either single or twin bedrooms. The house retains its own dining room a short walk across Scholar’s Court.